Let's Make a Diddley Bow in 10 Minutes

[@jfrankcarr]

I've built several diddley bows. I usually fancy them up with a quart paint can "resonator" covering the bridge and a threaded rod as the nut. My favorite way to make fret markers is burning them with a soldering iron or woodburner.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out. I'm a big fan of woodturning as well. This was meant to be a quick build but I actually really like the design so I'm already thinking 'bout a round 2 video. :-)

[@WoodRanger138]

WOW Thank You. This looks like so much FUN.

[@musicalmiscellany]

It really is a fun project. Make sure you also check out the second video where I add a few finishing touches. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmGydGOrdsaSarc Thanks for watching.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Cool build! Quick and dirty can be beautiful!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks Steve. It was kinda funny how this one came about. I had the thought and then 20 minutes later I had a video. LOL.

[@marcd1981]

Thank you for the video. I'm new to Cigar Box Guitars, and while watching videos and reading about them, you come across Diddley Bows (among other things). Now I am seeing more build videos, and something simpler definitely seems doable.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for the comment. I post these vids hoping they inspire someone else to do the same thing so it's always great to get feedback like that.

[@scott-jc5nd]

Great quick demo!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks. It was just a crazy idea but I'm happy with the way it came out. Be sure to watch part II here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmGydGOrdsaSarc

[@Tom_Klein]

Cool video!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for watching.

[@rock2blues59]

GREAT BUILD! Sounds good. Loved the music.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out. These things are so much fun. I did this just to be a quick build, but the more I look at it... the more I like it. I think I could make a few mods to this simple design and have a really great diddley.

[@drewjaeger8962]

Fun build! Finding the harmonics is a little beyond me right now. I need to do some looking around to see if I can find some resources explaining it a little more low level for my tired brain. Thanks for the fun content!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Glad you liked it. Finding the harmonics is easier than you think. Just look at the string find the approximate middle, lightly place your finger against the string (not hard enough to move the string towards the fingerboard, but enough pressure that it doesn't vibrate), pluck it, and then move it up/down the string until you hear it "sing". That's the harmonic. The strongest harmonics are at 1/2-scale, 1/3-scale, and 1/4 scale from the nut.

[@drewjaeger8962]

@@musicalmiscellany Thanks for the info! I will play around with it and see how it goes.

[@bearshield7138]

Nice This is fun. I am making my first homemade instrument. I am trying to build a Contrabass canjo.

[@musicalmiscellany]

It sounds like a fun project. I have a passion for 1 sting instruments for some reason. There's just something about them.

[@bearshield7138]

@@musicalmiscellany Just starting and it is my first. I am learning to play too. for some reason I have a passion for Contrabass and bass interments as well as home made and experimental musical interments.

[@musicalmiscellany]

@@bearshield7138 It sounds like we're kindred spirits.

[@bearshield7138]

@@musicalmiscellany could be

[@sandyangel2234]

I plan on making a working replica of tennessee O'Neal's one string Thang from the country bears

[@musicalmiscellany]

Have fun. These primitive instruments are super addictive.

[@fearlessfreddy1000]

Hi Kale, Down and dirty, soundin' pirtty. Where you get your workin' music for this job? Blessings from the Emerald City

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks Dick. I did a search for "royalty-free mellow blues" and found this track and a few others. I like the way it fit in with the vibe.

[@mashp5629]

Which way round do the Wires go . ?

[@musicalmiscellany]

The positive wire from the pickup goes to the tip of the jack and the negative wire goes to the sleeve. That's the standard for all guitar wiring.

[@stephpicher]

Am I crazy? (I know I kinda am, but bear with me.) I would have tried installing the pickup "horizontally", meaning of course parallel to the one string and right under it. Wouldn't you have stronger (and maybe even dirtier) signal? Anyways, great build as usual, and much entertaining. c H e E r S !

[@musicalmiscellany]

That is an option and many folks do that sort of pickup arrangement. However, that doesn't increase the output of the pickup and I don't care for the look of it. It may change the tone (just as moving the pickup closer to or further from the bridge does) and, if you prefer that... go for it. By all means... make it yours.

[@stephpicher]

@@musicalmiscellany Thanks, I'm definitely gonna try it when the time comes.

[@ErykMaler]

to jest to

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for watching.

[@TheParkAttendant]

I guess it's ugly. But ugly sounds the Best.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Ha ha. Ugly can still be fun. Thanks for watching.